Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning the public about a growing number of fraud videos made with Artificial Intelligence (AI). These videos impersonate celebrities and political leaders to trick people into investing money.
Between June and August, police investigated several cases where victims lost money after seeing videos on social media. The videos appeared to show well-known figures promoting financial programs, but they were fake. In two local cases, one victim lost $28,000, and another lost $3,500.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) calls these scams “deep fakes.” Using advanced AI, scammers alter video and audio to make it look and sound like celebrities or politicians are speaking. The videos can be very convincing, making it difficult to know they are not real.
Fraud is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Scammers use confusion and pressure to make victims act quickly and hand over money. Police remind the public to be cautious, especially when investment opportunities sound too good to be true. They encourage people to assume a video is fake until it can be proven real, to watch closely for glitches or unnatural movements that may reveal the video has been altered, and to always take time to research before investing. Speaking with friends or a financial advisor can also help prevent fraud.
Police say they will continue to investigate, but they also urge the public to remain alert. Anyone who has been a victim of fraud should call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.